Mastering Oneself.
1 Peter 5:1-11NKJV
Let me point out from the very beginning; The only way to master oneself is for him or her to surrender theirselves to Jesus.
Again, Mastering oneself is a life of submission to Jesus!
What I submit to you this morning is that this early group of leaders read the Apostle Peter’s letter firsthand, they understood this letter carried weight.
Peter, near the end of his temporal journey, is truthfully telling the elders, that God sees them throughout their journey, and He will be there with them, just as He’s with us.
He Emanuel, 24-7.
Crane Eater Community Church, I see these verses in you, the body of Jesus Christ. I desire to break these verses down for you to recognize 1 Peter 5:1-10 is a word for you, because you’re its example! P.H
1 Peter 5:1-11NKJV The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Notice the powerful wordage—Vs.10 Peter reminds us that after all is said and done, we have been called unto that eternal glory…
Billy Graham association—Heaven for the Christian will be a place of glorious life that will never end. Joy inexpressible, limitless peace, pure love, beauty beyond description—that’s what heaven is. Greatest of all will be the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, with whom we will enjoy fellowship forever.
Rev. Billy Graham—“Heaven will be what we have always longed for. It will be the new social order that men dream of. All the things that have made earth unlovely and tragic will be absent in heaven. There will be no night, no death, no disease, no sorrow, no tears, no ignorance, no disappointment, no war. It will be filled with happiness, worship, love, and perfection.”
Verse 10, Peter say’s, “After you have suffered a while.”
The very next words—
Perfect.
Establish.
Strengthen.
Settle you.
Remember this, Anything resisted is weakened. After you’ve suffered awhile.
James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“As a believer, you resist satan by submitting to God.’ ‘In return, Your submission unto God weakens temptations, and constant threats.” P.H
It’s time today to confront your problems!
What you refuse to Master today will Master you tomorrow.
Remember, what you do habitu- ally determines what you become permanently.
1 Peter 5:2NET Give a shepherd’s care to God’s flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God’s direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.
CECC, our only agenda is to pastor or shepherd God’s flock…Shepherd, again, under God’s direction! P.H
1 Peter 5:3NET And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
Always remember this, “The example we lead draws others too, or away from the Lord.”
The Enduring Word Commentary says this about verse 3. The most important “tool” to shepherd the flock of God is a heart like the heart of Jesus, one that is willing to give one’s life for the sheep, and who genuinely cares about, and is interested in them.
1 Peter 5:4NET Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
“This verse is not only talking about a loyal shepherd, or pastor, this verse is speaking direct to the faith-abiding, Jesus-loving, disciple-making-saint-of-God!” P.H
Enduring light records: Faithful shepherds are promised a crown of glory, but not like the crown of leaves given to ancient Olympic champions. —This crown will not fade away.
CECC, this is one of the eternal grand prizes for shepherding the flock—This crown will be seen and known by all eternal creatures.
1 Peter 5:5TPT In the same way, the younger ones should willingly support the leadership of the elders. In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.
Chris Hendrix—Christianity is not about becoming a great and powerful leader. It’s about becoming an humble servant. It’s following the example of the One who gave up all authority in Heaven and earth to wash the feet of others. It’s about meeting people where they are so they can see what God’s love is like.
Each must wrap around themselves an apron of a humble servant—
Here’s the attitude of the humble servant:
Serves others.
It’s not about me.
I just finished another leadership book and at the end, Og Mandino, the author gives 6 secrets to success:
You are original—rare. 100 billions people have lived on the earth.
Love yourself and others.
Serve and listen to others.
Go the extra mile.
I will master my emotions.
I am natures greatest miracle.
1 Peter 5:6TPT If you bow low in God’s awesome presence, He will eventually exalt you as you leave the timing in His hands.
Did you hear that powerful word? “If I bow low in God’s awesome presence…”
Again 1 Peter 5:6AMP Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,
It’s plain and simple—As you submit, God promotes! P.H
As you submit, cast all your cares upon the Lord. 1 Peter 5:7AMP casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
One example of care or anxieties ruling:
Jesus points out this difference to Martha, in Luke 10:38-42, where Martha accuses Jesus of not showing concern for Mary not helping.
The English translation—Jesus responds that the real issue in Martha is anxious and bothered by many things, but Mary has prioritized.
Charlotte Elliott was struck with an illness that made her an invalid for most of her life. She loved the Lord with all her heart. She longed to do something significant for God. But there she lay, confined to a bed with a body that wouldn’t function properly. All hope for real usefulness seemed to be dashed. But on that bed Charlotte Elliott wrote an invitational song that may have prompted more response to the gospel than any other. Who knows how many people have come to Christ singing her song: Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee O Lamb of God, I come! I come.
She could have gotten bitter—Instead she got better. She could have given up on serving God. Instead she served Him in the circumstances she found herself in.
Our service to God is not dependent on circumstances. It is dependent on consecration. P.H
1 Peter 5:7TPT Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
Psalm 55:22TPT So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.
Foot Notes of my Bible—“Load upon him your every anxiety, for he is always watching over you with tender care.”
Again, Psalm 55:22AMP Cast your burden on the Lord [release it] and He will sustain and uphold you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).
1 Peter 5:8NET Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
Peter is saying, “After you’ve cast your cares, don’t forget the enemy, the devil, satan, still seeks whom he may devour!”
I hear Peter saying, “Hey shepherd, ‘be on the look out, stay sober, be proactive, be intentional.”
Can I add, the devil hates you, he comes to— devour, to destroy. P.H
Jesus said it, John 10:10NET The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
In its original translation— Steal, Kill and destroy mean,“to slaughter” (in reference to animals).
1 Peter 5:9NET Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.
Peter’s plea to every shepherd— Resist him.
Peter say’s,“Be strong in your faith.”
He then he say’s, Remember, others, like yourself, have endured the same kind of suffering!
1 Peter 5:9TPT Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure.
Matthew Henry Commentary—Suffering, in part, comes from the activity of the devil. There are sufferings that must be resisted in faith, as part of an attack from our adversary.
1 Peter 5:10TPT And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.
Key Note—“When we are in the midst of suffering, we are convinced it will never end.”
Peter reminds us that all of our trials are slight, brief, and temporary, but the glory we experience is eternal.
CECC, What God has in store for every shepherd—is eternal glory!
1 Peter 5:11TPT And he has all the power needed to do this—forever! Amen.
“The art of mastering myself means living life with an apron.” P.H
Benediction.
